Alan Tomlinson alto and tenor trombones
Dave Tucker electric guitar
Phillip Marks drums and percussion
"The Alan Tomlinson Trio, formed in 1992, has thrilled audiences around the UK and Europe, bringing a powerful mix of anarchic play, technical virtuosity and punk energy, with a spirited performance style. Expect the unexpected when you least expect it." [Mopomoso]
Alan Tomlinson was born in Manchester and studied trombone at the City of Leeds College of Music. He has been actively improvising since the early 1970s and was a member of ILEA’s Cockpit Theatre Music Ensemble. He is a member of Tony Oxley’s Angular Apron, Barry Guy’s London Jazz Composers Orchestra, the Peter Brötzmann Group, London Improvisers Orchestra, Louis Moholo-Moholo Unit, the Ballet Rambert Orchestra and the Electro-Acoustic Cabaret among others.
As well as performing solo, Alan works with many musicians including Jon Corbett, David Toop, and Phil Minton, has collaborated with visual artist Christian Marclay, with the comedian Stewart Lee, and has worked regularly in duo with Roger Turner and Steve Beresford.
He has toured throughout Europe and as far afield as North America and Siberia. His solo LP, Still Outside, came out in 1981 [on Philipp Wachsmann’s Bead records] and several composers have written solo pieces for him.
Dave Tucker spent the 1970's involved in the Manchester punk scene before joining The Fall, recording with the group on their classic 1981 six-track 10” "Slates". Since the mid 1980's, he has been resident in London and has performed and recorded with, amongst others, Evan Parker, John Stevens, Johnny Dyani, Mick Beck, Phillip Wachsmann, Barre Phillips, Otomo Yoshihide, is a long time member of the Alan Tomlinson Trio, the quartet, Scatter, with Pat Thomas, Phil Minton and Roger Turner, as well as being a guitarist and conductor with the London Improvisers Orchestra. He has written and performed music for film and TV.
Phillip Marks was born in Manchester and moved to New York until the age of 17. On returning to the UK, from 1988 – 2003, Phil was involved in the promotion, organisation and performance of innovative and adventurous musical events in Manchester (including the lottery-funded “Manchester Festival of Improvised Music” in 1998). He performed at the Freedom of the City festival in London in May 1991.
He co-founded the long-standing free improvisation group Bark! [1991 to present] playing regularly around Europe and in the UK.
As well as the Alan Tomlinson Trio, Phil regularly works with the pianist Stephen Grew, the guitarist David Birchall, Richard Scott's Lightning Ensemble, plus has worked with Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, John Butcher, Phillip Wachsmann, Marcio Mattos, Pat Thomas, John Edwards, among others.
recorded by Phillip Marks
post production by Dave Tucker
a set, filmed by Kostas Chondros, of the Alan Tomlinson Trio performing at a Mopomoso Sunday afternoon free improvisation event on 16 June 2019 at the Vortex, London - recorded a few days after the Klinker set is here: youtu.be/yGeXDE2URjQ
sound recorded by Tim Fletcher
dedicated to Alan Tomlinson 07 November 1947 - 13 February 2024
supported by 14 fans who also own “live at the Klinker”
This tribute really manages to capture Coltrane's spirit. The improvisations on Coltrane's compositions are all excellent and so is the opener track which is inspired by Coltrane's work but not one of his compositions. Absolutely worth listening! Florian Janyszek